Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the finest knocks of IPL 2026 in Qualifier 2, but it was not enough to take Rajasthan Royals to the final as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Gujarat Titans. Former India spinner and ex-Rajasthan Royals player Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his disappointment, saying the rest of the batting unit let down the 15-year-old prodigy despite his heroic effort.
Match Overview
While the batting order of Rajasthan Royals collapsed, it was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi standing alone to give his team a big total to defend but it was not enough for the team. Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin admitted he was saddened to see such a remarkable innings end in defeat.
"Main mayoos hoon (I am sad)," Ashwin said. "He has played so well throughout IPL 2026, scoring almost 800 runs. But for me, the high point was the innings he played today. Of course, he had some luck, but the wicket was offering assistance to the bowlers. He was up against some of the best bowlers in international cricket, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder."
"He got lucky at times, a catch was dropped as well, but the way he adjusted his shots and adapted to the conditions was exceptional. He deserved better. Rajasthan Royals were underwhelming. I know Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan batted brilliantly, but Rajasthan Royals let down that young boy's incredible innings. In fact, incredible isn't even enough to describe what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced today," he added.
Rajasthan Royals' Batting Collapse
Rajasthan Royals endured a nightmare start after being reduced to 9/2 in the powerplay, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (1) and Dhruv Jurel (7) falling early to Kagiso Rabada. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then rebuilt the innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who played a crucial hand of 45 off 35 balls before being forced to retire hurt due to an elbow injury. Jadeja's departure triggered a middle-order collapse, with Riyan Parag managing just 11 as RR lost wickets in quick succession.
Amid the chaos, Sooryavanshi stood tall with a breathtaking 96 off 47 balls, smashing eight fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of more than 204. Donovan Ferreira later provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 38 off just 11 deliveries, helping RR post a competitive 214/6. However, Gujarat Titans chased down the target comfortably to book their place in the IPL 2026 final.
Ashwin's Lament
Ashwin's words echoed the sentiment of many fans who witnessed Sooryavanshi's masterclass. The 15-year-old's innings was a blend of power and precision, but it was not enough to overcome the collective failure of the batting lineup. With this defeat, Rajasthan Royals' campaign ended in heartbreak, while Gujarat Titans advanced to the final.
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